IDENTIFY SOLDIERS AND LOCATION

[lmaio]

It would greatly be appreciated if anyone could help identify where these pictures may have been taken and more importantly who the soldiers are. These were found in my parents personal items among some of my mom's brothers and my father's military possessions. They have all now passed, except one brother but at 97 years of age he is unable to help. If I could at least have some help where these pictures may have been taken I may be able to narrow down some information regarding the photos. All five photos I feel were taking on the same day as they each have the same film development information on the reverse side.

Attachments:

[floydragsdale]

Hello once more:

Without a doubt in my mind this photo was taken in a 106th Div. area, Again the Soldier is wearing his Fall/Winter/Spring clothing. There are leaves on the trees as in some of the other photos. Consequently, I think she time of year may have been Spring;

This Soldier may have been an officer. The flashy item on his shirt collar may that of a 1st or 2nd Lt. Also, his waistline does not appear to be nice and trim and, he seems to have a slight pot nellie that is not typical of a Soldier who has been in Basic Training.

All of these photos, I believe, were taken in N.C. or TN.

Floyd
424th Regiment

[Jim West - Indiana Military Or]

Again, not at Camp Atterbury.

West

[floydragsdale]

Hello:

To answer your question, I’ll use my WWII experience as an example!

At the time of my entry into the Army (1943) a number of brand new Infantry Divisions were being formed here in the States.

From an Army Reception center (Ft. Harrison, IN) where recruits were issued their uniforms etc. quite a number of us were sent to Camp Shelby, MS where we were assigned to a new Infantry Division (65th) that had been newly activated at Camp Shelby.

For the following 18 weeks all of us went through Basic Training to learn the skills (believe me there are many) of waging war. Then we practiced these tactics as a Company and then as a Regiment. Finally, we performed maneuvers as an entire Infantry Division.

The time frame for all of this activity, for me, was from January 1944 to the last week of August 1944.

At that point I was transferred to the 106th Division in Camp Atterbury, IN where that Division was preparing to be shipped overseas.

A Soldier was NOT supposed to be sent overseas until he attained his 19th birthday, or he had been in the Army for at least a year. My 19th birthday was in Sept. 1944.

Some men who were drafted, or enlisted, in the Army, particularly, in 1944 were sent to Basic Training Camps around the U.S.A. Once a man completed a Basic Training Course he became qualified to be shipped into whatever Army Unit that needed Soldiers.

The Soldier with the 106 letters behind him, I believe was with the 106th Division.

In the other pictures that you posted there is no indication of shoulder patches, or signs of any Army unit that these men were a part of.

Here’s hoping that this will be of use to you.

Floyd

[lmaio]

Once again Floyd....thanks for all the great information.